Drapery



M. GORDON March 9, 1954 DRAPERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1951 INVENTOR .Morrzs Gordon.

ATTORNEY M. GORDON March 9, 1954 DRAPERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1951 I INVENTOR Morrzs Gordon ATTORNEY I II I I Patented Mar. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAPERY Morris Gordon, New York, N. Y.

Application October 8, 1951, Serial No. 250,290

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in hanging draperies useful particularly for windows, and is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial Number 199,217, filed December 5, 1950, now U. S. Patent 2,627,981, granted February 10, 1953.

An object of the invention is to provide a ready-made valance drapery which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, requires no skill to hang, and is easily marketable in known channels of trade.

Another object is to provide a simple method of manufacturing finished ready-made valance draperies in various lengths of cloth for dii ferent sizes of windows, whereby the user can select a suitable drapery on sale in a store, and hang the same quickly by a simple manipulation.

A further object is to provide a ready-made drapery which can be sold as a piece of drapery material but which is quick to mount, adj-us-t able over a desired range of window sizes, and foldable in the same pattern by threading together certain eyelets with which the drapery is provided.

Briefly, one embodiment of the invention comprises a valance drapery made from a piece of drapery material, preferably substantially rectangular in shape, by securing thereto eyelets arranged along parallel lines running longitudinal- 1y cf the material, whereby folds or pleats are produced in the material when the eyelets are threaded together. The eyelets may be positioned along slightly curved lines arranged on both sides of and symmetrically with respect to a central line extending transversely'of the length of the material. These curved lines bow in toward this central line. Each eyelet on one curved line finds a corresponding eyelet on its opposite curved line positioned on the same straight line running longitudinally of the mate-rial. The curvature orangle on which the eyelets 'are positioned will vary with the style and depth of the valance desired.

The eyelets on each curved line are arranged in spaced pairs, each pair being located close to and on opposite sides of the inner (rear) edge of a fold. A cord or ribbon is fastened to each upper and lower edge of drapery on the imaginary curved line passing through the eyelets; thus, there are two cords or ribbons for each line of eyelets on either side of the transverse central line of the drapery. The cords or ribbons for each curved line of eyelets thread through the eyelets and meet near the longitudinal center of the drapery. Since the pairs of eyelets on each of the two curved lines are individually threaded, the tightening or pulling together of g the two cords for each curved line of eyelets will create the folds or pleats of the valance. The tightening and tying together of the two cords for each line of eyelets will produce the pleated drapery ready for hanging over brackets or nails secured to opposite sides of the window frame.

According to another embodiment of the invention, two pieces of drapery made substantial- 1y as described above, except for the omission of one curved line of eyelets and the adjacent -sw'ay portion (sometimes called jabot or end drape portion), are joined together at their side edges where the sway portions are missing, to form a double arch of folds or pleats.

A more detailed description of the invention follows, in conjunction with a drawin wherein Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of the blank or fabric piece of a ready-made valance drapery accordance with one embodiment of the invention, spread out to show the arrangement of the eyelets and the manner in which the drapery is constructed;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of a window frame provided with the valance drapery of the invention made in accordance with the construction of Fig. 1 hung thereon;

Fig. 3 shows .a plan view of a modification of the valance drapery .of Fig. .1 spread out to Show details of construction thereof. In effect, Fi .3 comprises two fabric pieces similar .to .Fig. 1 .except that each piece lacks one curved line of eyelets and its adjacent sway .or end drape portion, these two fabric pieces being joined together. Only that much of the drapery material isshown in Fig. .3 as is necessary for .an understanding of those features which differ from thoseof Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation View of a window frame provided with the valance drapery .of the invention made inaccordance with the construction of Fig.3 hung thereon.

Throughout the figures of the drawing, the same parts are designated by thesa-me reference numerals.

Fig. '1 illustrates the blank .or fabric ,piece of material .111 from which the valance drapery of the invention is constructed. fabric .may be made from (any suitable cloth; for example, satin, silk, rayon, cotton, or .any woven or other type of material. Thefabricpiece may'origi-na/l- 1y be rectangular in shape as sdefined by the corners A, :3, 1C, 33. In'practice, however, in the manufacture of the drapery, the material ID will be cut from large bolts of fabric along lines very close to that of the finished drapery, as shown by the solid lines of Fig. 1. On opposite sides of the transverse center dot-and-dash line 12 and symmetrically with respect thereto, are positioned pairs of eyelets l4 positioned on two curved lines which bow in or curve toward each other. The angle of curvature of the lines is rather slight. Although the lines on which the eyelets are shown are curved, each of these lines, if desired, may comprise two straight lines joined end-to-end and forming a bend or junction somewhere near the longitudinal center of the fabric, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. The angle of bend or curvature may vary depending upon the desired style and depth of the finished valance.

It should be observed that correspondingly positioned eyelets M on the two curved lines are located on the same straight line. These straight lines are indicated by the imaginary dash lines 20.

The eyelets on each curved line comprise, in effect, pairs, in which each pair is made up of two relatively closely spaced eyelets which are spaced a greater distance from the next pair along the length of the same curve. Each pair appears close to and on opposite sides of the rear edge of a fold or pleat in the drapery when ready for hanging over a window. This rear edge of the fold or pleat will fall on a line between the pair of eyelets.

A binding or tape l6 appears along the edges 5, 6, 1, 8 of the fabric drapery, and is stitched thereto. Preferably, the top edge 6 is made in the form of a hem (the material folded over and under), whereas the bottom edge 8 and the side edges 5, I are bound by tape. This is preferred because the top may be seen in some cases when the folded valance is hung on the window while the bottom is concealed.

A pair of tie cords l I and [3 are secured to the top and bottom edges of the drapery on the curved line on which the eyelets fall. Tie cord II is sewed at one end to bottom edge 8 at point E, under the binding or tape, while tie cord I3 is sewed at one end to top edge 6 at point F. The tie cords are threaded through the eyelets 14 as shown, and knotted at their free ends to prevent the ends from slipping through eyelets.

In order to produce the pleats or folds in the drapery, the ribbon-like tie cords ll, [3 on each curved line are tightened or gathered together and then tied into a bow-knot which can easily be opened by pulling one of the cords.

To hang the drapery over a window, the folds are held together by the fingers of the user, at points spaced apart by the distance between the tie cords, and the drapery hung over brackets or nails fastened to the window frame, with the tie cords in the rear of the drapery concealed between the folds of material. The hung drapery will then appear as shown in Fig. 2.

The drapery of the invention is so designed that any one size can cover a relatively large range of window sizes. The drapery can be hung so that it is supported at the points where the tie cords appear or at points either side of the tie cords. By way of example, a valance having the dimensions illustrated in Fig. 1 has a 28 inch range of adjustments and can be used for any window between 30" to 58" wide. This particular size of valance can be so hung that the location of the tie cords can extend inches inside the window bracket or 9 inches outside 4 the window bracket on each side, thus providing a total adjustment range of 28 inches to accommodate diiferent sizes of windows.

In making the drapery valance of the invention, the following procedure may be followed to ascertain the proper dimensions for any size window. It is, of course, necessary to know the dimension across the window frame. In the vicinity of New York, the average size window is 48 inches between vertical sides. This dimension then determines the distance between points E and F in Fig. 1 at which the tie cords are located. The end or sway portions (jabots) of the drape may have any desired length, so long as they are sufiicient as a minimum to properly hold the valance in place when the drapery is placed across the window brackets. If tacks are employed to hold the drapery in place on the window, then the end or drape portions need not be so long. Longer jabots (end or drape portions than necessary from a functional standpoint may be used to enhance the attractive appearance of the drapery, with, of course, a corresponding increase in cost of the drapery due to the increased amount of ma-- terial used in making the drapery. For the average window frame having a 48 inch width, the two jabots can safely be 36 inches each, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is then necessary to ascertain the dimensions of the drop of the arch desired (from top to bottom) of the completed drape with its folds when hung on the window. This dimension to a large extent depends on personal taste. On an average size window varying anywhere from 30" to 58" across, a drop of 18 inches and ix folds or pleats provides a highly attractive valance.

As for the width of the blank fabric piece from which the drapery is to be made, this will depend on how full the folds should be and on the number of folds desired. For example, a valance having a finished drop of 18 inches and 6 folds can be made out of blank material having a width of 36 inches, in which case each fold or pleat will have a fullness of about 6 inches If the width of the blank fabric piece is 42 inches,

then the fullness for each of six pleats or folds will be about '7 inches whereas if the width of the blank is approximately 48 inches, the fullness of each of the six pleats will be approximately 8 inches The question of cost is also to be considered because the wider the blank the greater will be the amount of material used and the more expensive will be the drapery.

In Fig. l, the drapery is designed to have a length of 48 inches between tie cords, six folds or pleats, a drop of 18 inches, and jabots of 36 inches for the finished article. The drapery is illustrated in Fig. 2 hung on window brackets 25 spaced 48 inches apart.

In order to design the drapery, it is advisable to draw a triangle on the upper part of the blank, with the 48 inches (selected as the distance between tie cords) forming on the upper edge 6 the base of the triangle symmetrically disposed on opposite sides of the transverse central line [2. At a point H spaced from the base 18 inches (assuming the drop of the finished drape tobe 18 inches), lines are drawn to points F at the ends of the base of the triangle. The length of each side of the triangle between points H and F is then 30 inches. This distance is laid out along the bottom edge of the fabric on both sides of the central line I2 to constitute a line KK of 60 inches. Points E are each located at a distance of approximately of the width of the fabric up from the line. A smooth curve drawn between points E, E and passing through the lowermost point on central line l2, provides the central portion of the lower edge for the drapery. Assuming a width of 45 inches, then points E are each approximately 4 inches up from line CD. Pomts E and F then define the ends of the curve along which the pairs of eyelets M are to be positioned.

In order to obtain the line along which the eyelets M are to be positioned, a straight line M should be drawn between points E and F. At a distance of about 40% of line M measured up from point E, at point N, along a line at right angles to line M, there is drawn a point P at a distance toward central line I2 equal to approximately 2% of the width of the fabric. In a blank having a maximum width of 45 inches, point P is approximately 2 inches from point M. A curved line or two lines drawn between points E, P and F determine the general line along which the eyelets are to be placed. This line is not critical and need not be a curve, since if desired the eyelets can be placed on a straight line between E and P and on another straight line between P and F. It should be noted that the two lines EPF on opposite sides of the central line [2 bow inward toward each other.

Line EPF should be divided into as many equal parts as it is desired there be folds or pleats. If six folds are desired, then line EPF should be divided into six parts and marks made on these points of subdivision. These six points on line EPF are to be the locations of the rear or inner edges of the folds or pleats of the drapery when folded. On opposite sides of each of these six points at distances of about /2 inch, the eyelets I4 are placed. Ribbons or cords ll, l3 sewed to the top and bottom edges of the drapery should be threaded through the eyelets, as shown in Fig. 1. The eyelets l4 are positioned far back in the pleats or folds created when the tie cords are tightened and tied together. Each eyelet on one line EPF on one side of central line I2 has a corresponding eyelet on the other line EPF on the other side of the central line I2 on a line running longitudinally of the fabric material and at right angles to the central line [2.

Points R on the lower edge of the drapery are obtained by measuring a distance of approximately 12 inches along a line parallel to CD. Points A, R and B, R determine the locations of the side edges 1 of the drapery.

The general principles hereinabove outlined may be followed to provide a drapery valance having two drops or arches as shown in Fig. 4. The spread out drape of Fig. 4, indicated by A, B, R, R, is shown in Fig. 3, and comprises in effect two drapes as shown in Fig. 1 with one jabot (end portion) omitted from each drape, and both drapes joined together, as by stitching, along the line 50, which line would normally join the missing jabots to the central portions. The same dimensions have been used in Figs. l and 3' order to more easily indicate the same parts. Thus, the drape portion S to the left of the central line 50 corresponds to the drape of Fig. 1 with the right jabot (end portion) cut away while the drape portion T to the right of the central line 50 corresponds to the drape of Fig. l with the left jabot (end portion) cut away. Obviously, the portion of the drape at the location of the lower edge near line 50 is loose or bunched whereas the upper portion at the location of the upper edge is taut.

It should be understood that the number of pairs of eyelets in each row may vary depending p h u e o e d d d n he 4d r pe wh n un on 16he w n e In el ewine he rin i l of the in n ion, ne ally tated there w l be one s pair of elet aeh rew a t e u b of l s er p at d si d the drapery. Thus, the five pairs of eyelets of l in each row will produce six folds or pleats. Four pairs of eyelets will produce five folds, while six pairs of eyelets will produce seven folds or pleats.

An advantage of the invention is that the drape n be sold in p ad ut esh en. e eled P r a as would be a bed sheet, so as to be compact, ready for hanging by a simple manipulation of the tie cords.

I claim:

1. A drapery comprising a fabric piece of material which is longer than it is wide, said material having two rows of eyelets secured thereto and symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of a center line passing transversely of the length of the material, said rows of eyelets bowing-in toward each other and extending substantially over the width of the fabric material and approximately transversely of the normal line of suspension for the drapery, said rows of eyelets being spaced more closely together near one edge of the fabric than near the other edge, each said row comprising a plurality of pairs of eyelets, the eyelets of each pair being closely spaced relative to the distance between adjacent pairs in the same row, said pairs of eyelets dividing the width of said fabric into substantially equal subdivisions, each eyelet in one row having a correspondingly positioned eyelet in the other row, and means for threading together the eyelets of each row, to thereby form folds, each pair of eyelets in a row defining the edge of a fold appearing therebetween, the end portions of said drapery located outside said rows of eyelets having less width and length then the intermediate portion between the eyelets.

2. A drapery comprising a fabric piece of material which is longer than it is wide, said material having two rows of eyelets secured thereto and symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of a center line passing transversely of the length of the material, said rows of eyelets bowing-in toward each other and extending substantially over the width of the fabric material and approximately transversely of the normal line of suspension for the drapery, said rows of eyelets being spaced more closely together near one edge of the fabric than near the other edge, each said row comprising a plurality of pairs of eyelets, the eyelets of each pair being closely spaced relative to the distance between adjacent pairs in the same row, each eyelet in one row having a correspondingly positioned eyelet in the other row, and cords respectively secured to each end of each of said rows of eyelets, each cord threading together a plurality of pairs of eyelets and having a free end near the longitudinal center of said fabric material, whereby the free ends of the two cords of each row may be suitably drawn and tied together.

3. A drapery comprising a fabric piece of material which is longer than it is wide, said material having two rows of eyelets secured thereto symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of a center line passing transversely of the length of the material, said rows of eyelets bowing-in toward each other and extending substantially over the width of the fabric material and approximately transversely of the normal line of suspension for the drapery, said rows of eyelets being spaced more closely together near one edge of the fabric than near the other edge, that portion of said last edge of the fabric which extends between the more widely spaced eyelets in said two rows being curved to form an arch, each eyelet in one row having a correspondingly positioned eyelet in the other row, and cords secured to the edges of said fabric at the ends of said rows for threading through the eyelets of each row, to thereby facilitate the forming of folds in said fabric.

4. A drapery in accordance with claim 3, in-

8 cluding end fabric portions extending outside said rows of eyelets, said end fabric portions each having less width and length than the central portion of said drapery located between said rows of eyelets.

5. A drapery in accordance with claim 3, including end fabric portions extending outside said rows of eyelets, said end fabric portions each having less width and length than the central portion of said drapery located between said rows of eyelets, a binding attached to the edges on at least three sides of the fabric material, certain of said cords extending to said binding on at least one side and being sewed thereto.

MORRIS GORDON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 978,220 Sarkisian Dec. 13, 1910 1,736,086 Madsen Nov. 19, 1929 1,871,101 Waltz Aug. 9, 1932 2,123,413 Geller July 12, 1938 2,247,260 Stone June 24, 1941 2,352,531 Gallo June 27, 1944 2,627,918 Gordon Feb. 10, 1953 

